In a stunning box office upset, two independent horror films directed by Gen Z YouTubers have left the latest Star Wars installment in the dust. Backrooms, directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, and Obsession, the debut of 26-year-old Curry Barker, have dominated the weekend box office, signaling a shift in audience preferences toward internet-born content.
Record-Breaking Openings
Backrooms, produced on a modest budget of $10 million, earned an impressive $81.5 million in its opening weekend across the US and Canada. Global takings reached $118 million, setting a new record for the studio A24. The film originated as an internet 'creepypasta' before being adapted into a viral web series, which amassed a dedicated following.
Meanwhile, Obsession, which cost under $1 million to make, secured second place with $26.4 million. This surpassed Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, which dropped to third with $25 million.
Audience Demographics
The success of these films highlights the power of online content creators to attract a young and diverse audience. According to industry data, 86 per cent of Backrooms viewers were under 35 years old. This demographic, often hard to lure away from streaming platforms, turned out in droves for the horror double feature.
Industry experts suggest that these unexpected triumphs could represent a new direction for Hollywood. Compelling content, regardless of budget or traditional origins, can draw audiences back to the big screen, said one analyst. The success of Backrooms and Obsession underscores the growing influence of digital creators in shaping mainstream cinema.
Implications for Hollywood
The box office shock comes amid ongoing concerns about the viability of theatrical releases, especially for franchise films. The performance of these low-budget horrors demonstrates that there is still appetite for fresh, original stories that resonate with younger viewers. As studios increasingly rely on established IP, the rise of YouTuber-directed films may prompt a reevaluation of how Hollywood sources and markets content.
With Backrooms and Obsession continuing to perform strongly, the film industry will be watching closely to see if this trend endures. For now, the message is clear: the internet has arrived in Hollywood, and it is here to stay.
